Department for Transport

Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Wales

Mr Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many hours of shift time were staffed below risk-assessed levels at (a) Swansea and (b) Milford Haven Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre in (i) July 2013, (ii) January 2014, (iii) July 2014 and (iv) January 2015.

Mr Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many shifts were staffed below risk-assessed levels at (a) Swansea and (b) Milford Haven Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre in (i) July 2013, (ii) January 2014, (iii) July 2014 and (iv) January 2015.

Mr John Hayes: The new flexible shift patterns and the ability for areas covered by the new HM Coastguard structure to be handled by any Coastguard within it mean workload is managed nationally rather than on a centre by centre basis. This enables HM Coastguard to proactively match available staff across the whole network to its busiest areas and times, both diurnally and seasonally. It is therefore more relevant to consider the total number of Coastguards available on the growing national network. As of 6 March 2015 this network, and the benefits it delivers, will stretch from Beachy Head to the Mull of Galloway. The transition of the national network around the United Kingdom will be complete by December 2015. These historic risk assessed watch level assessments at the current individual centres err strongly on the side of caution. As each centre joins the evolving national network, the number of Coastguards at any of the individual centres becomes less significant. Where there are specific issues at a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), Her Majesty’s Coastguard uses the current long established pairing arrangements between MRCCs. This enables each MRCC to be connected to at least one other MRCC which is available to provide mutual support. Work continues on the fresh appraisal I have asked for on the relationship between the available levels of resource and need in the light of the benefit of the new structure. The following table outlines the number of shifts and how many hours of shift time were staffed below risk assessed levels at (a) Swansea and (b) Milford Haven Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres in (i) July 2013, (ii) January 2014, (iii) July 2014 and (iv) January 2015. MRCCJul-13Jan-14Jul-14Jan-15ShiftsHoursShiftsHoursShiftsHoursShiftsHoursSwansea23276101204149232384Milford Haven5605602631220240

Railways: Electrification

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what costs of rail electrification were passed on to electricity network operators in each of the last five years.

Claire Perry: The costs of rail electrification are the subject of commercial discussions between Network Rail and the electricity network operators. Network Rail can be approached at Network Rail, 1 Eversholt Street, London, NW1 2DN.

Railways: Electrification

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of the costs of rail electrification were passed on to electricity network operators in each of the last five years.

Claire Perry: The costs of rail electrification are the subject of commercial discussions between Network Rail and the electricity network operators. Network Rail can be approached at Network Rail, 1 Eversholt Street, London, NW1 2DN.

Railways: Electrification

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the costs to electricity network operators of the plans for rail electrification set out in the National Infrastructure Plan.

Claire Perry: The estimate of the costs to electricity network operators of rail electrification is the subject of commercial discussions between Network Rail and the electricity network operators. Network Rail can be approached at Network Rail, 1 Eversholt Street, London, NW1 2DN.

Railways: Electrification

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to monitor and manage the costs to electricity network operators of rail electrification.

Claire Perry: The monitoring and management of electrification costs are the subject of commercial discussions between Network Rail and the electricity network operators. Network Rail can be approached at Network Rail, 1 Eversholt Street, London, NW1 2DN.

Railways: Electrification

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assurances he has received from Network Rail on the costs to electricity network operators of rail electrification and the effect on consumer energy bills.

Claire Perry: The costs to electricity network operators of rail electrification are the subject of commercial discussions between Network Rail and the electricity network operators. Network Rail can be approached at 1 Eversholt St, London NW1 2DN.

Railways: Electrification

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Network Rail on the costs to electricity network operators of rail electrification and the effect on consumer energy bills.

Claire Perry: The costs to electricity network operators of rail electrification are the subject of commercial discussions between Network Rail and the electricity network operators. Network Rail can be approached at 1 Eversholt St, London NW1 2DN.

Road Works

Sir Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the quality of reinstatement work carried out by utility companies and statutory undertakers; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on the quality of reinstatement works by utility companies and statutory undertakers in the last year.

Sir Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has plans to increase resources available to highway authorities to enforce requirements relating to reinstatement works by utility companies and statutory undertakers.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Department does not collect data relating to the quality of utility reinstatements. The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State has met with representatives of both utility companies and local highway authorities to discuss street works, including the quality of reinstatements. In the last year the Department received 8 letters from MPs and 8 other items of correspondence about reinstatements. It is for local authorities to determine the resources assigned to enforce requirements relating to street works. Councils have powers through the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 to inspect reinstatements and to require utilities to carry out remedial works to comply with their reinstatement duties. Further powers are available through the Traffic Management Act 2004 where local authorities can introduce permit schemes for street works, and enforce conditions about how works are carried out. A prescribed proportion of street work inspections is funded by utility companies, and authorities also have powers to bring prosecutions where the quality of reinstatement does not meet standards.

East Coast Railway Line

Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, by what date it is scheduled that free wifi will be introduced on Virgin East Coast Main Line trains or at stations on that line.

Claire Perry: Virgin Trains East Coast will introduce free wi-fi at Stations during 2016. On board wi-fi will continue to be made available free to first class customers from the start of the franchise and Virgin Trains East Coast’s current plans include a number of initiatives that will see the phased roll out of free wi-fi to an increasing number of passengers between 2015 and 2018. The exact timings will depend on a number of external factors including improvements to line side equipment.

Southern

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will review the current franchise agreement of Southern Rail in order to improve service quality.

Claire Perry: This Franchise Agreement contains provisions for the management and monitoring of the quality of the service being provided by Southern. The Department’s Franchise Management team continues to maintain close regular contact with Southern. This includes monthly meetings with their senior management where performance figures are scrutinised and challenged. Whilst performance is not at the level passengers expect senior officials are in even more frequent contact with them. There are a range of enforcement mechanisms available to the Department in the event of non-compliance and we will take action if the level of service provided to passengers makes this necessary.

Gilberdyke Station

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to improve disability access to Gilberdyke Railway Station.

Claire Perry: All of the available Access for All funding is now committed until 2019 and Gilberdyke station was not nominated by the industry for the programme. We are not aware of any industry or third party plans to improve access at the station.

Railway Stations: Disability

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of railway stations in (a) England, (b) East Riding of Yorkshire and (c) Haltemprice and Howden constituency that will have full disability access by 2020.

Claire Perry: Information on the accessibility of individual railway stations is collected by the Association of Train Operating Companies and published as part of the Stations Made Easy facility on the National Rail Enquiries website at:http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/default.aspx

Gilberdyke Station

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to extend the Access for All funding to Gilberdyke Railway Station.

Claire Perry: In 2013 the rail industry was asked to nominate stations for the additional £160m made available to extend Access for All until 2019. Gilberdyke was not put forward and could not therefore be considered for funding.

Railway Stations: Disability

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many railway stations in (a) England, (b) East Riding of Yorkshire and (c) Haltemprice and Howden constituency do not have disability access.

Claire Perry: Information on the accessibility of individual railway stations is collected by the Association of Train Operating Companies and published as part of the Stations Made Easy facility on the National Rail Enquiries website at:http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/default.aspx

Railway Stations: Disability

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of stations that will be only partially accessible to disabled passengers in 2020.

Claire Perry: The 2020 end date applies to rolling stock accessibility and not stations. However, when infrastructure work is carried out at stations it must meet EU and UK accessibility standards. In addition, the Access for All programme will have provided step free routes at more than 220 stations by 2019 and has already delivered smaller scale access improvements at more than 1,100 stations.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many applications to the High Speed 2 need to sell scheme have been received to date; and how many such applications (a) have been fully reviewed, (b) have been accepted, (c) have been rejected and (d) are still under negotiation.

Mr Robert Goodwill: There have been 41 applications of which 5 have been withdrawn. Decisions have been made on four cases, of which three have been accepted and one rejected. Five cases are pending a decision. The remaining 27 applications are at various stages between receipt of application, (checking, verifying, gathering evidence) and consideration by the independent panel.

Home Office

Offenders: Foreign Nationals

Mr Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures her Department has put in place to track foreign national offenders upon release back into the community since May 2010.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 02 March 2015



Tough enforcement is the cornerstone of this Government’s immigration policy. Those who break our laws should be removed from the country at the earliest opportunity, and we will seek to remove any foreign national who receives a custodial sentence for a criminal offence. We removed almost 5,100 foreign national offenders in 2013/14 and over 23,000 since 2010. We are removing more offenders straight from prison, which saved the taxpayer £27.5million in the last financial year. This is all despite a 28% increase in appeals.We are dealing with offenders who do not want to go home, and in some cases whose home country does not want to take them back. This presents challenges which we are determined to overcome. Chief among the challenges are the legal barriers we face. That is why this Government is the first to have a strategy for dealing with foreign national offenders, including overcoming obstacles to their removal. We have also introduced new powers in the Immigration Act (2014) which have cut the number of grounds on which criminals can appeal deportation. More than 500 foreign offenders have already been removed under the new ‘deport now, appeal later’ provisions.The majority of foreign national offenders in the community were released by an Immigration Judge, despite our strong opposition. Most offenders are subject to reporting conditions and, where possible, electronic tagging. If a foreign national offender fails to comply with these conditions by absconding, our dedicated national absconder tracing team works with the police, other government agencies and commercial companies to track down, arrest and return absconders to custody. The Home Office is using intelligence and working more closely with partners to maximise the impact of enforcement activity.

Terrorism

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that people who have been suspected of planning to commit terrorist attacks are appropriately monitored.

James Brokenshire: This Government has taken significant steps to keep this country safe. Funding for the Security and intelligence agencies has increased in cash terms by 5% compared to 2010 (from £2 billion to £2.1 billion). We spend £564 million annually on CT policing. And on 25 November 2014, Prime Minister announced£130 million of new money through to the end of the next financial year to monitorand disrupt terrorists.The Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015, which received Royal Assent last month, improved law enforcement agencies’ ability to identify who is responsible for sending a communication on the internet or accessing an internet communications service.

Mediterranean Sea

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the number of migrants who have drowned in the Mediterranean since the end of Operation Mare Nostrum and the start of Operation Triton.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

National Police Air Service

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing fixed wing aircraft to the National Police Air Service fleet.

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how recent reductions in the National Police Air Service budget will be distributed between police forces in (a) the East Midlands and (b) the Eastern region.

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what meetings Ministers in her Department have had with representatives of the National Police Air Service in the last 12 months.

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect of the closure of the National Police Air Service base at Husbands Bosworth on flight times to (a) Corby, (b) Oundle, (c) Thrapston, (d) Raunds, (e) Irthlingborough, (f) Warmington and (g) Easton-on-the-Hill in Northamptonshire.

Mike Penning: The National Police Air Service (NPAS) is a police-led operational initiative, with all strategic decisions, including agreeing the budget and operating model, taken by the Strategic Board which comprises Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and Chief Constables. The Board agreed to convene a small working group of PCCs to define a more equitable future funding model for all force areas.The Strategic Board agreed on 19 February a new optimised operating model that will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service, and will mean that every air base supports police forces 24 hours a day. NPAS modelling indicates that Northamptonshire will remain within the 20 minute Priority 1 Service Level Agreement for NPAS. The new operating model will include an enhanced fixed-wing aircraft capability within the NPAS fleet. Home Office Ministers have been kept informed of the development of NPAS’s new operating model, and officials attend the NPAS Strategic Board meetings in a non-voting capacity.

Police: Pensions

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, at what age police officers will be able to draw their pensions under her Department's proposed new pension scheme.

Mike Penning: Police officers will be able to retire with a pension from age 60 under the 2015 Police Pension Regulations. They will also have flexibility to be able to retire early with a reduced pension from age 55. Police officers will continue to retire earlier than most public servants.

Mark Jenner

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether, and in what capacity, Mark Jenner is currently employed by a UK police force.

Mike Penning: The Home Office does not hold this information. The employment of individual officers and staff is an operational matter for individual forces.

Mark Jenner

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether public funds were used to facilitate payments of UCATT subscription fees by Mark Jenner when he joined that union between 1996 and 1998.

Mike Penning: The Home Office does not hold this information.

Asylum

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria are used for determining to which areas asylum seekers are dispersed.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 06 March 2015



The last Labour Government passed the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to alleviate the pressure on local authorities in London and the South East of England where most asylum seekers made their asylum claims. The effect of the 1999 Act was to pass the support responsibility to the Home Office. Regional dispersal policy established by the then Home Secretary in 2000 provides that, as a general rule, asylum seekers should be accommodated in areas where there is a greater supply of suitable and cheaper accommodation.Asylum seekers who need accommodation are housed across the UK according to an agreed ratio, based on various regional factors. The Home Office has voluntary agreements with 95 local authorities throughout the United Kingdom in accepting the dispersal of asylum seekers. As part of the regional dispersal policy established in 2000 an advisory cluster limit was set by the Home Office at 1 asylum seeker for every 200 of the settled population.

Asylum

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers have been dispersed to each region in each of the last six months.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Asylum: Stockton on Tees

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much the Government is paying private landlords to house asylum seekers in Stockton-on-Tees local authority area.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 06 March 2015



The Government does not pay private landlords for accommodating asylum seekers as there is no direct contractual relationship between the Home Office and private landlords. Accommodation is provided through third party accommodation providers under the COMPASS contracts. Accommodation in the Stockton-on-Tees area is provided via a contract with G4S and the associated costs are regarded as being commercially sensitive and are not available for disclosure.

Asylum

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional funding has been provided to local authorities, schools and the NHS to fund costs relating to asylum seekers in the last 12 months.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Borders: Personal Records

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been stopped from leaving the UK by officials at the ferry port in Hull in the last year.

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been stopped from leaving the UK by officials at the shuttle tunnel in Folkestone in the last year.

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been stopped from leaving the UK by officials at the ferry port in Portsmouth in the last year.

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been stopped from leaving the UK by officials at the ferry port in Dover in the last year.

James Brokenshire: To ensure the integrity and security of the UK border Her Majesty’s Government does not comment on port specific statistics.

Borders: Personal Records

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times there have been no police or immigration officials at the ferry port in Portsmouth checking people leaving the UK in the last year.

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times there have been no police or immigration officials at the ferry port in Dover checking people leaving the UK in the last year.

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times there have been no police or immigration officials at the shuttle tunnel in Folkestone checking people leaving the UK in the last year.

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times there have been no police or immigration officials at the ferry port in Hull checking people leaving the UK in the last year.

James Brokenshire: The requested information has not been released as it is Border Force policy not to release port-specific staff numbers on grounds of national security.Exit checks were abolished by the last government. This Government is committed to reintroducing exit checks by April 2015 on scheduled commercial international air, sea and rail routes.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Mauritania

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will hold discussions with his Mauritanian counterpart on the arrest and trial of Biram Abeid and others involved in anti-slavery campaigns in that country; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK’s representative in Nouakchott has raised our concern at the Biram Abeid case with the Mauritanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in particular the length of the activists’ sentence. With other EU member states, the UK made a public statement to express our concern on 20 January. We understand that the activists are appealing the sentence, and we are considering what further representations will we make to the Government of Mauritania following the outcome of this appeal.

Ukraine

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on establishing a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine.

Mr David Lidington: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) met US Secretary of State, John Kerry, in London on 21 February. They discussed the importance of full implementation of the Minsk agreements. We continue to monitor closely the implementation of the ceasefire, including through reporting from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission.

Iraq

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Iraqi counterpart on strengthening Iraqi military forces.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The strengthening of Iraq’s security forces forms a regular part of our engagement with the Government of Iraq, including when the Foreign Secretary hosted the inaugural meeting of the Small Group of the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL on 22 January. The meeting was attended by both Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al Abadi and Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari. Discussions included the need to support the Government of Iraq in its fight against ISIL, as well as the need for progress in strengthening Iraq’s political stability through addressing Sunni disenfranchisement. This would include progress on the creation of a National Guard, legislation in this regard would, in part, see Sunni tribal forces brought under the aegis of Iraq’s security forces, politically and militarily drawing together Sunni and Shia in their common fight against ISIL.The UK is actively contributing to the Global Coalition’s efforts in support of Iraqi Forces including conducting over 150 strikes and training over 1000 members of the Kurdish Peshmerga. In addition to our earlier delivery of lethal equipment to the Peshmerga, which included 40 Heavy Machine Guns, subject to parliamentary scrutiny, we will also gift 1000 surplus VALLON Counter-IED metal detectors to Iraq, and deploy a team to provide training in their use.

Religious Freedom

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will meet the Religious Liberty Commission to discuss global religious persecution.

Mr David Lidington: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 February 2015 to PQ 224376.

Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences

Mr Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which British Embassies and High Commissions have included the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative within their business plans; and if he will make a statement.

James Duddridge: We have PSVI strategies and engagement in place for a range of conflict affected countries, key partners and multilateral posts including Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Iraq, Syria, the USA, the United Nations and the European Union.

Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences

Mr Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he plans to take to incorporate lessons learned from the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative into teaching at the Diplomatic Academy; and if he will make a statement.

James Duddridge: Lessons from the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) campaign are being incorporated into a range of teaching materials on campaigning, communications strategies, and policy development for the Diplomatic Academy. Additionally, the Diplomatic Academy materials on conflict and multilateral engagement will include sections on preventing sexual and gender based violence as well as related issues such as combatting violence against women and girls.

Algeria

Sir Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what independent assessment has been made of the number of refugees living in the Tindouf camps; and what the most recent estimate of that number is.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We have no access to independent figures on the number of refugees living in the Tindouf camps. The UK supports the language in the UN Secretary General’s latest report on the situation in Western Sahara (S/2014/258), which cites a figure of 90,000 refugees.

Algeria

Sir Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information his Department holds on when the report to the European Anti Fraud Office on food aid for the Tindouf refugee camps was (a) undertaken, (b) completed and (c) published.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The European Anti Fraud Office (OLAF) report on food aid in Tindouf refugee camps was undertaken from 2003, drafted in 2007 and released in 2015 following an intervention by the EU Ombudsman.

Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences

Mr Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many (a) full-time UK-based and (b) locally-engaged staff in his Department are working to support the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative in (i) London and (ii) overseas; and if he will make a statement.

James Duddridge: There are seven full time members of staff working in the London based Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) team. The team is supported by colleagues from geographic and thematic desks whose portfolios cover PSVI issues. In addition the team works closely with other government departments including Stabilisation Unit and DFID. It is not possible to provide accurate figures of all UK and locally engaged staff around the FCO network who work on PSVI but over the last twelve months the London PSVI team has worked with staff in over eighty posts to take forward PSVI objectives.

Religious Freedom

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many staff in his Department's Human Rights and Democracy section work in the area of freedom of religion or belief.

Mr David Lidington: Within the Human Rights and Democracy Department (HRDD), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has one full time Desk Officer wholly dedicated to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), who works closely with the Team Leader in the Equalities and Non-Discrimination Team, who themselves spend approximately 50% of their time on FoRB. Additionally, the Head and the Deputy Head of HRDD spend approximately 5% and 20% respectively of their time on FoRB issues; one Human Rights Advisor spends 5% and one HRDD Communications Officer approximately 10%.As FoRB is one of only six thematic human rights priorities for the FCO, a considerable number of other FCO officials in London and overseas are engaged directly on FoRB as part of their wider human rights work.

Gambia

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to improve the rights of LGBTI people in Gambia.

James Duddridge: The UK position on human rights is clear: human rights are universal and must apply equally to all people. We are therefore concerned about the "Aggravated Homosexuality Bill" recently introduced in The Gambia, and the British Ambassador in Banjul has raised these concerns with the Gambian government on numerous occasions in recent months.Furthermore, we have raised our concerns at the United Nations when The Gambia’s human rights record was evaluated during the Universal Periodic Review. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will also be focussing on The Gambia’s record on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender issues in its upcoming Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report which will be published on 12 March. This report is HMG’s flagship publication on human rights around the world.

Algeria

Sir Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the findings of the report of the European Anti Fraud Office on food aid for the Tindouf refugee camps.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The European Anti Fraud Office (OLAF) report on food aid in Tindouf refugee camps was undertaken from 2003, drafted in 2007 and released in 2015 following an intervention by the EU Ombudsman. The report cites three key elements to the fraud: the diversion of food aid, the inflation of refugee numbers in camps and the use of unpaid labour. The evidence may encourage the European Commission to look at measures to reduce the risk of fraudulent practices.

LGBT People

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to promote the rights of LGBTI people overseas.

Mr David Lidington: Our work to combat violence and discrimination against Lesbian Gay Bisexual & Transgender (LGB&T) people is therefore an important part of our international human rights work. We work through our embassies and high commissions, and through international organisations, including the UN, the Council of Europe and the Commonwealth, to raise awareness of the importance of tolerance and non-discrimination against all people, including LGB&T people, and to address discriminatory laws, in particular those that criminalise homosexuality. We welcomed the adoption at the Human Rights Council in September 2014 of the UN’s second ever resolution on sexual orientation, which passed by a much bigger majority than the first resolution on this issue in 2011. We work with partners as part of the UN’s LGB&T Core Group in New York to ensure that the UN does more to combat discrimination and protect the rights of all, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. We support targeted project work and work with civil society in individual country situations.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Higher Education: Admissions

Mr Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimates of university application numbers his Department used when making the decision to remove student number controls.

Mr Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent estimate his Department has made of numbers of applications to English universities in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17, (c) 2017-18, (d) 2018-19 and (e) 2019-20; and what effect the decision to remove student number controls in December 2013 has had on those estimates.

Greg Clark: The Department does not estimate the number of applications to English universities.

Research: Finance

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much funding was awarded by the (a) Arts and Humanities Research Council, (b) Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, (c) Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, (d) Economic and Social Research Council, (e) Medical Research Council, (f) Natural Environment Research Council and (g) Science and Technology Facilities Council to institutions and Reseach Organisations in (i) Scotland, (ii) Wales, (iii) Northern Ireland and (iv) each government office region in England in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12, (C) 2012-13, (D) 2013-14 and (E) 2014-15.

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much funding was awarded by the (a) Arts and Humanities Research Council, (b) Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, (c) Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, (d) Economic and Social Research Council, (e) Medical Research Council, (f) Natural Environment Research Council and (g) Science and Technology Facilities Council to each university in the UK in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13, (iv) 2013-14 and (v) 2014-15.

Greg Clark: This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Higher Education

Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, which new higher education institutions designated under section 129 of the Education Reform Act 1988 received funding for (a) capital works and (b) specific designated courses in the last five years for which data are available.

Greg Clark: Holding answer received on 24 February 2015



In the last five years two higher education providers were designated under section 129 of the Education Reform Act 1988 - The National Film and Television School and The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Both were designated in 2013.   To date neither has received funding for capital works.   In 2008 the National Film and Television School had a two year full time post graduate course specifically designated allowing eligible students to apply for disabled students’ allowance, this lapsed at the point that they became a publicly funded higher education institution.   The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine had no courses specifically designated for student support prior to them becoming a publicly funded higher education institution.

Students: Finance

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many people with limited or discretionary leave to remain have had applications for students loans or grants rejected in each year since 2008.

Greg Clark: Holding answer received on 23 February 2015



The Student Loans Company does not hold information on the number of student loan and grant applicants with limited or discretionary leave to remain that have had their application rejected for the years requested.

Higher Education: Carers

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to ensure universities better support students who are also carers.

Greg Clark: Holding answer received on 03 March 2015



As autonomous bodies, universities are responsible for providing support to help their students succeed in their studies.Universities charging above the basic fee level (£6,000 for full time students) must also agree an access agreement with the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) setting out what more they will do to widen participation and help students to succeed with their studies. In its latest guidance, OFFA specifies young carers as a group whose needs universities should consider.   Carers Trust and the National Network of Universities Supporting Young Adult Carers have produced a resource “Supporting Students with caring responsibilities: ideas and practice for universities to help student carers access and succeed in Higher Education.” The Trust and the Network are holding an event on 24th April to help universities to support students with caring responsibilities through the student lifecycle.

Green Investment Bank: Wales

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much has been paid by the Green Investment Bank to projects in Wales in each year of that bank's operation.

Matthew Hancock: The Green Investment Bank (GIB) has to date helped finance four projects located in or off the coast of Wales. Total commitments to these amounts to £289,100,000 of which £69,100,000 has so far been deployed. Details are set out in the table below:   Project2012/13Committed / Drawn(values £m)2013/14Committed / Drawn(values £m)2014/15Committed / Drawn(values £m)Rhyl Flats offshore wind farm57.5 / 57.5  Gwynt y Mor offshore wind farm 220 Port Talbot bio-energy plant 11.20 / 11.20 Kingspan energy efficiency retrofit 0.40 / 0.260.14   In addition, GIB has helped finance introduction of energy efficient lighting in car parks, including 9 in Wales.

Science: Research

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of maintaining the current level of spending on science research and development beyond 2016; and what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on that matter.

Greg Clark: At a time of tight control over public spending, this Government has remained committed to supporting our world-class science and research base. We have protected the science ring fence in cash terms for 2015/16. We have also announced investment in science infrastructure of £1.1bn a year rising with inflation to 2021, funding for new programmes such as Quantum Technologies, the Newton Fund, and further investment in high level skills. This means that overall Department for Business, Innovation and Skills investment in science and research will reach £5.8bn in cash terms for Financial Year 2015/16, an increase in the overall allocation compared to recent years.

Students: Loans

Dr Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make it his policy to increase the level of student maintenance loans in areas where the cost of living matches or exceeds the London average to the level of such loans in London.

Greg Clark: Holding answer received on 02 March 2015



Decisions on support for tuition and living costs support are taken on an annual basis.   The Government announced in a Written Ministerial Statement on 12 March 2014 the Maintenance Grant for academic year 15/16 would be maintained at 14/15 levels. Maximum loans for living costs for new and continuing full-time students will be increased by forecast inflation for 2015/16, 3.34%. The student support package for 16/17 will be announced in due course.

Technology: Employment

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make an assessment of the consequences for his policies of the conclusion of the report Technology at Work: The Future of Innovation and Employment, published in February 2015 by Citi GPS.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The report by Citi GPS makes an important contribution to the debate about how technological developments will shape work and the labour market.   The Government’s Horizon Scanning Programme Team is working with officials across departments to explore the implications for policy – including employment – of emerging technologies. Through this work, the team has been in touch with the authors of the Citi GPS report from the Oxford Martin School since last year.

Business: Government Assistance

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what growth hubs are in operation; where each hub is located; when each hub began operation; and how many businesses have been provided assistance by each hub.

Matthew Hancock: Growth Hubs bring together services for small business in each Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) area. There are currently 23 Growth Hubs, and a list of locations is provided in the table below. Growth Hubs have begun operation at different times reflecting local circumstances, and launch dates are shown. As a condition of receiving funding from Government in 2015-16 alongside their Local Growth Deals, LEPs will report on the number of businesses their growth hub has helped. This information will be available from October 2015.   Growth HubLaunch DateGrowth HubLaunch DateBlack CountryJune 2014LancashirePrior to January 2014Buckinghamshire Thames ValleyPrior to January 2014New AngliaJune 2014CumbriaPrior to January 2014NorthamptonshirePrior to January 2014Coventry & WarwickshireAugust 2014OxfordshireJune 2014Coast 2 CapitalAugust 2014SouthendJune 2014D2N2December 2015South East MidlandsMarch 2014DorsetMay 2014Stoke-on-Trent & StaffordshireOctober 2014Greater ManchesterPrior to January 2014SolentJuly 2014Heart of the South WestJune 2014Swindon & WiltshireMay 2014HumberJune 2014Tees ValleyJuly 2014GloucestershireOctober 2014Thames Valley BerkshireJune 2014  WorcestershireJune 2014

Vocational Training

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of traineeships completed to date lasted (a) less than one month, (b) between one and three months, (c) between three and six months and (d) six months or more.

Nick Boles: Of the 6,400 traineeship completions reported to date (August 2013 to October 2014) one per cent lasted less than one month, 32 per cent lasted between one and three months, 48 per cent lasted between three and six months, and 18 per cent lasted more than six months. These data will include trainees that left earlier than originally expected for positive destinations.   While work experience and work preparation training should be completed within 6 months of starting a traineeship, learners are able to continue to study English and/or maths for longer – for example, as part of further learning or while they are in work. Therefore, the length of traineeships can vary greatly.

Appeals

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he plans to respond to the consultation, Regulatory and competition appeals: options for reform, which closed on 11 September 2013.

Jo Swinson: The Government is still considering some of the complex issues raised in the consultation before fully considering the way forward.   Steps have been taken to address one of the issues raised as part of the consultation. The Government has made provisions in the Consumer Rights Bill to allow for a widened pool of judges to sit as Chairs of the Competition Appeals Tribunal. This reform removes the time limit that judges can remain as Chairs and allows both Scottish judges and judges from the Queen’s Bench to be nominated as Chairs.

Department for International Development

International Climate Fund

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when she expects the framework for assessing the effectiveness of climate spend through the UK's International Climate Fund to be ready.

Justine Greening: The ICF has put in place a further programme, the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Programme, to support its work in this area. Impact results will be made available using the new ICF Knowledge platform which is designed to improve access to ICF data.

HANSHEP

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding her Department has given to HANSHEP in the last four financial years.

Justine Greening: DFID has provided £18.2 million in support to projects co-funded with other HANSHEP members since 2011. The projects have focused on providing essential health services to the poor, providing support to governments on public health service provision, and identifying innovative solutions to common health problems.

Adam Smith International

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funding her Department provided to Adam Smith International in the 2013-14 financial year.

Justine Greening: We do not provide any core funding to Adam Smith International.

Overseas Aid

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of its multilateral and headquarters' spend that is allocated to least developed countries.

Justine Greening: This information is not available in the form requested.

Developing Countries: Children

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what targets her Department has set for tackling (a) child labour and (b) other children's rights issues internationally; and if she will take steps to ensure such targets are included in the sustainable development goals.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The UK is strongly supportive of Sustainable Development Goal 16 as proposed by the Open Working Group on the sustainable development goals. As currently drafted, this includes a target on ending all forms of violence and abuse against children. The UK has been vocally supportive of target 5.3 which includes the requirement to end child, early, and forced marriage and female genital mutilation and the Open Working Group report additionally includes targets on child labour.

Department for Education

Educational Institutions: Asbestos

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to compensate teaching professionals who have been exposed to asbestos while working in educational establishments.

Mr David Laws: It is the responsibility of employers to compensate their employees or former employees where harm is shown to have resulted from exposure to asbestos. Employers may have to provide compensation in cases where it is shown that they have not taken measures to protect their employees from the risk of exposure to asbestos. As the employers of teaching professionals in educational establishments, it is for schools, academy trusts or governing bodies (depending on the type of school) to provide compensation to employees harmed by asbestos exposure.   There are a number of schemes available to those who are unable to bring a claim for compensation against their employer or trace the relevant employers' liability insurer, which can support those who may have experienced this. These benefits and lump sum payments are administered by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Secondary Education

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of (a) secondary school places were in publicly-funded selective schools, (b) pupils attended schools outside their local authority area at Key Stage 3 and (c) selective school pupils do not live in the same local authority area as the school for each local authority area with selective schools in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mr David Laws: a) According to the January 2014 school census, a total of 162,630 pupils attended selective state-funded secondary schools. This represents 5.1% of the 3,181,360 attending state-funded secondary schools.[1]b) As of January 2014, 8.8% of pupils in each of the academic years 7, 8 and 9 attended schools outside their local authority area.[2]c) As of January 2014, 25.5% of pupils attending selective state-funded secondary schools did not live in the same local authority area as the school.  [1] www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2014[2] www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2014

GCSE: Disadvantaged

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will calculate the proportion of (a) pupils known to be eligible for free school meals achieving 5+ A*- C GCSEs (or equivalent) grades including English and mathematics and (b) all other pupils achieving 5+ A* - C GCSEs (or equivalent) grades including English and mathematics, by local authority and region for the 2013-14 GCSE results using the 2013 methodology.

Mr David Laws: 2013/14 Key Stage 4 results by local authority using the 2013 methodology have not yet been published by the Department for Education.   Information on pupils achieving 5+ A*- C GCSEs (or equivalent) grades including English and mathematics using the 2013 methodology by local authority will be released in mid-March.   Information on the attainment of pupils by free school meals (FSM) using the 2013 methodology at national level is published in table 1 of the ‘GCSE and equivalent attainment by pupil characteristics: 2014’ Statistical First Release. This is published online at: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/gcse-and-equivalent-attainment-by-pupil-characteristics-2014

Headteachers

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many applications her Department has received for the first application round of the talented leaders programme.

Mr David Laws: The application round for the first cohort of the Talented Leaders programme opened on 10 September 2014. The Future Leaders Trust that runs the programme received a total of 125 completed applications.

Headteachers

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many school leaders her Department have recruited to the talented leaders programme to date.

Mr David Laws: To date, the Future Leaders Trust that runs the Talented Leaders programme has recruited 27 school leaders to the programme. This first cohort of talented leaders will be matched and placed in headship positions in schools by September 2015.   The Talented Leaders programme aims to recruit 100 exceptional school leaders over two cohorts and match them with schools in areas of the country that are facing some of the toughest challenges.

Headteachers

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which areas are taking part in the talented leaders programme; and how many school leaders have been recruited to that programme in each area to date.

Mr David Laws: There are currently fifteen priority areas around the country that have joined the Talented Leaders programme. They are Bradford, Blackpool, Suffolk, North Lincolnshire, Redcar and Cleveland, Hartlepool, Stockton on Tees, Sunderland, Norfolk, Southend on Sea, Bracknell Forest, East Sussex, Medway, Thanet, and Portsmouth. Additional areas are expected to join over the coming months.   The Future Leaders Trust that runs the programme is currently matching talented leaders with schools in some of the priority areas.

Free School Meals: Copeland

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children in each ward in Copeland constituency (a) were eligible for and (b) received free school meals in each of the last five years.

Mr David Laws: Information on the number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals is not published at parliamentary constituency level.

Schools

Mr Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will give a guarantee that in her tenure as Secretary of State for Education there will be no for-profit schools.

Mr Edward Timpson: All academies must be set up as charitable trusts, which ensures that any income must be spent on their charitable aims. The government has no plans to change these arrangements.

Carers: Young People

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department requires local authorities to hold on the number of young carers in receipt of free school meals.

Mr Edward Timpson: Holding answer received on 06 March 2015



The Department for Education does not require local authorities to collect this information.

Ministry of Justice

Courts: Closures

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in which parliamentary constituencies closure of a court has been (a) proposed and (b) decided upon.

Mr Shailesh Vara: Closure of courts is subject to Ministerial decision following public consultation. The MoJ consulted on the future of Abergavenny and Caerphilly Magistrates’ Courts in the constituencies of Monmouth and Caerphilly respectively. No Ministerial decision has yet been taken following that consultation. The MoJ consulted on the future of Rhyl County Court in the constituency of the Vale of Clwyd, and although it was decided to close that court, cases continue to be listed there while we consider whether moving to Prestatyn is still the best option. HM Courts & Tribunals Service continues to keep the use of its estate under review to ensure it meets operational requirements.

Legal Aid Scheme

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of comparative per capita levels of legal aid spending in England and Wales and other jurisdictions.

Mr Shailesh Vara: A Ministry of Justice study published in 2011 (based on 2008 estimates) showed that England and Wales had the highest legal aid expenditure amongst countries with similar legal and judicial traditions. The European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) publishes a biennial report “European judicial systems: efficiency and quality of justice” which contains the comparative per capita levels of legal aid spending. The Department contributes data to these reports and the most recent, published in 2014 using 2012 data, can be found at: www.coe.int/t/dghl/cooperation/cepej/evaluation/2014/Rapport_2014_en.pdf This report shows that England and Wales has the third highest allocated budget to legal aid (after Norway and N.Ireland) per inhabitant at €41.55 per head. The European average is €8.63 per head.

Church Commissioners

Churches: Repairs and Maintenance

Mr James Gray: To ask the right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, how many applications have been received by the Commissioners for funding from the Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair fund; when the Commissioners will determine which of those applications have been successful; and what assessment the Commissioners have made of the proportion of those applications likely to be wholly or partly successful.

Sir Tony Baldry: The Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Scheme is not administered by the Church Commissioners but by the National Heritage Memorial Fund. The Church Commissioners understand that despite the very short window for applications, a very substantial number have been submitted. This amply illustrates the need for such a scheme. All decisions regarding successful bids should be completed by the National Heritage Memorial Fund by the end of March.

Ministry of Defence

Nimrod Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much was spent on the Nimrod MRA4 project in each financial year from 1994 to 2014.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much British Aerospace was paid for work on the Nimrod MRA4 project in each financial year from 1994 to 2014.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of support costs for the Nimrod MRA4 in each financial year from 2009 to 2020.

Mr Julian Brazier: Available expenditure information on the Nimrod MRA4 aircraft programme is provided below: Financial Year£ millionPre 1996-97(1)51996-97721997-98781998-99(2)4511999-20001922000-013072001-02(3)582002-032512003-044442004-054142005-063042006-073802007-083082008-092782009-103102010-11(4)87  Notes: (1) Total cost of the assessment phase as at 31 March 1996. Earlier data is no longer available. (2) Accruals accounting introduced to Ministry of Defence accounts. (3) The variance between 2001-02 and 2002-03 in part reflects an accruals adjustment. (4) As at 31 December 2010. In addition, costs of £0.5 million were incurred in disposing of Nimrod MRA4 airframes, against a corresponding receipt of £1 million. Available financial information has not identified payments relating to the programme after 20 October 2012. Information on payments made to BAE Systems in respect of work undertaken on the Nimrod MRA4 programme is no longer centrally held and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I am withholding details of costs associated with the cancellation of the Nimrod MRA4 programme as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice commercial interests. The Nimrod MRA4 support solution was in the assessment phase at the time the programme was cancelled. At that time, the approved cost of the support solution was £146 million. Estimated support costs for each year from 2009 to 2020 are no longer centrally held and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2015 to Question 214595, what criteria is used to decide how many UK military personnel are deployed to individual UN operations.

Mr Julian Brazier: Deployments of UK personnel overseas take into account a number of factors, including: National Security Council priorities; foreign, defence and security policy objectives; and matching Defence capabilities to the requirements of the task.In addition to deployments of troops and capability in standing operations and one-off deployments, the Ministry of Defence currently supports a number of UN missions through the provision of highly capable staff officers.

Scotland

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of (a) staff of his Department and (b) staff working for companies contracted by his Department in Scotland are paid less than the living wage.

Mr Julian Brazier: The Government supports businesses which choose to pay the Living Wage. The national minimum wage is independently set by the Low Pay Commission at a level which maximises wages without reducing employment prospects. It is for workers and employers to negotiate the level of wages above the minimum wage. This includes the Government as a procurer and an employer. Around 20 million employees, over 95% of the total, earn above the minimum wage, and the majority of public sector workers currently earn above the Living Wage.The Ministry of Defence (MOD) currently employs 170 civilian staff in Scotland who are being paid below the UK Living Wage of £7.85 an hour. This represents 4.4% of the MOD civilian population based in Scotland.We do not have access to the information required to provide equivalent data in respect of contracted workers' rates of pay, where paid by their parent company or recruitment agency.

Veterans: Scotland

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assistance his Department provides to people leaving the Armed Forces in Scotland to seek further training and qualifications upon leaving the Armed Forces.

Mr Julian Brazier: In Lord Ashcroft's 2014 review of transition arrangements, he made clear that the measures which the Ministry of Defence (MOD) already have in place ensure that the vast majority of Service leavers make a successful transition to civilian life. Among many others, these measures include a resettlement and career package from the MOD-funded Career Transition Partnership and funding for nationally recognised qualifications through Enhanced Learning Credits which can be utilised up to 10 years post-discharge. These arrangements apply to all Service leavers, regardless of stationed location or residential address within the UK.

Afghanistan

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for International Development on what future military support will be provided to Afghanistan.

Mr Julian Brazier: Holding answer received on 06 March 2015



The UK has made an enduring commitment to Afghanistan. We are now contributing around 470 troops in a non-combat role to the NATO Resolute Support Mission, principally focused on mentoring at the Afghan National Army Officer Academy to help develop the next generation of Afghan military leaders. The UK has also committed £70 million a year until 2017 to help sustain the Afghan National Security Forces and £178 million a year in development aid.

Civil Servants: Reserve Forces

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff within the Scottish Government are participating in the Civil Service Reserves One per cent Challenge.

Mr Julian Brazier: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Currently there are approximately 3,400 Volunteer Reserves based in Scotland and the Scottish Government is working closely with the Armed Forces in Scotland to promote service in the Reserve Forces.

Department for Work and Pensions

Personal Independence Payment: Wrexham

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Wrexham constituency have been unsuccessful in an application for personal independence payments since June 2013.

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many personal independence payment applications are awaiting determination in (a) Wrexham constituency and (b) Wales.

Mr Mark Harper: The available information on registrations, clearances and awards for claims to Personal Independence Payment, at parliamentary constituency and regional level, have been published in the data tables accompanying the latest, quarterly statistical release: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-independence-payment-april-2013-to-october-2014.

Personal Independence Payment: Wales

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have waited more than six months for a personal independence payment application to be determined in (a) Wrexham constituency and (b) Wales in each of the last three years.

Mr Mark Harper: The available information on outstanding claims to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has been released as an ad hoc publication on 28 January and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-independence-payment-new-claims-ad-hoc-statistics.We intend to release PIP clearance times and waiting/outstanding times statistics for the first time on 18 March and have pre-announced this in line with UK Statistics Authority release protocols.

Housing Benefit

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in 2013-14 received local housing allowance at a rate of (a) £250 per week for a 1-bedroom property or shared accommodation, (b) £290 per week for a 2-bedroom property, (c) £340 per week for a 3-bedroom property and (d) £400 per week for a property with four or more bedrooms.

Steve Webb: The information available is for local housing allowance (LHA) cases by the number of entitled bedrooms and weekly award amount bands. This information is published and available at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people received (a) hardship payments and (b) short-term benefit advances in each of the last (i) five years and (ii) six months.

Esther McVey: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) intends to publish figures on the number of hardship applications and awards in May 2015. The date of publication will be announced shortly.   For Short Term Benefit Advances (STBAs) I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the oral answer given to him by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Official Report, 8 December 2014, column 633. The Secretary of State set out how the department will be doing more to raise awareness of STBAs. This will include providing more information to claimants about STBAs online and in Jobcentres. Staff guidance on STBAs will also be updated and staff reminded of the process for considering an STBA.

Unemployed People: Travel

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the average cost of travel to routine fortnightly interviews at Jobcentre Plus where claimants live more than a mile from their Jobcentre Plus office.

Esther McVey: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Remploy

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2015 to Question 225675, when he or a Minister in his Department last met a former Remploy employee or representative.

Esther McVey: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Social Security Benefits and Welfare Tax Credits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his latest estimate is of the number of people who will be claiming legacy benefits or tax credits on 1 January 2021.

Mr Mark Harper: The numbers of claimants in receipt of Universal Credit at any given point will vary according to a number of factors, such as the prevailing economic conditions and the behavioural change of claimants.   The last new claims to legacy benefits and tax credits will be accepted during 2017. Following this, the number of people on the remaining legacy claims and tax credit claims will progressively decline, and the Department will migrate the remaining claims to Universal Credit. Should there be no change in the labour market outlook or the pace at which claims are migrated, the current planning assumption is that the bulk of this exercise will be complete by 2019.

Food Poverty

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he has taken since 8 December 2014 to act on the conclusion of the Feeding Britain report.

Esther McVey: The Government welcomed the report as a serious contribution to an important debate, which recognised that the reasons behind demands for emergency food assistance are complex and frequently overlapping. As the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions announced in his oral answer (Official Report, 8 December 2014, column 633), more information will be provided to claimants about Short Term Benefit Advances (STBA) online and in Jobcentres. Guidance will also be updated and staff reminded of the process for considering STBA requests. The department has already undertaken testing of the posters and messaging with a small number of staff and claimants and the designs have now been reviewed by the Social Security Advisory Committee.

Social Security Benefits

Mr Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 26 January 2015 to Question 221196, what the criteria were for selecting the 49 cases relating to the death of a claimant for peer review; what the date and location of death was of the claimant in each case; in how many of the cases the claimant had been sanctioned; what conclusions each review reached on whether his Department could have acted more appropriately or correctly or sympathetically in its dealings with the claimant; and if he will publish the detailed results of each review.

Esther McVey: Peer Reviews can be requested for any complex case where it is beneficial for it to be analysed with objective scrutiny to ensure all issues have been fully addressed. Peer reviews aim to identify process improvements and contain sensitive information and disclosing the content of these reviews, even in anonymised and summarised form, may still allow individuals to be identified.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Mr Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 9 February 2015 to Question 222884, for what reason information that is currently available to his Department on jobseeker's allowance hardship payments between March 2012 and March 2015 will not be published until May 2015.

Esther McVey: Figures on the number of hardship payments are currently being compiled and will require quality assurance ahead of publication.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Mr Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish the information his Department holds on how many people received jobseeker's allowance (JSA) hardship payments in each year from March 2012 to date; and how many JSA claimants (a) were sanctioned and (b) received hardship payments in each parliamentary constituency or the nearest proxy for constituencies in each such year.

Esther McVey: (a) The information requested for the number of JSA sanctions by Parliamentary constituency is published and available at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm  (b) The latest published information on hardship awards covers the 12 month period from April 2011 to March 2012 can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/222972/hardship_adhoc_2011_2012.pdf

Remploy

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2015 to Question 224963, what the agenda was and who the participants were in each meeting between a Minister in his Department and a former Remploy employee since May 2010; and what the proposed agenda is and participants will be in each such meeting that is currently planned.

Esther McVey: The information requested is not collated centrally and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Housing Benefit: Greater London

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in London claimed (a) £250 per week for a one bedroom, (b) £290 per week for a two bedroom property, (c) £340 per week for a three bedroom property and (d) £400 per week for a four bedroom property in housing benefit in 2013-14.

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many new claims there were for housing benefit of (a) £250 per week for a one bedroom property or shared accommodation, (b) £290 per week for a two bedroom property, (c) £340 per week for a three bedroom property and (d) £400 per week for a property with four or more bedrooms.

Steve Webb: The information requested in respect of all housing benefit claimants is not available. The Department does collect some information on the number of entitled bedrooms in respect of the Local Housing Allowance only. We are therefore unable to answer these questions which relate to all housing benefit claimants. The information available is for local housing allowance (LHA) cases by the number of entitled bedrooms and weekly award amount bands. This information is published and available at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Dangerous Dogs

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many section 1 dogs have been exempted under section 4A or 4B of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in England in each year from 1997 to 2014.

George Eustice: The attached table shows the numbers of dogs added to the Index of Exempted Dogs under section 4A and 4B of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 from 1997 to 2014.  Year Number of Dogs19971119983519992520001520014200272003None recorded20046200512006620071852008330200939520107292011683201267820137202014674

Dangerous Dogs

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people have been (a) proceeded against and (b) convicted of an offence under section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 in England in each year from 1997 to 2014.

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people have been (a) proceeded against and (b) convicted of offences under section 3(1) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in England in each year from 1997 to 2014.

George Eustice: The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ courts and found guilty at all courts of offences under section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 and Section 3(1) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in England from 1997 to 2013 is in the table attached and has also been sent to the House Library.   Criminal court proceedings data for 2014 are planned for publication in May 2015. 



table showing Magistrates Courts proceedings
(Excel SpreadSheet, 38 KB)

Agriculture: Research

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department's expenditure was on (a) basic and (b) applied agricultural research in each of the last 15 years.

George Eustice: a) The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has not funded basic agricultural research within the past 15 years. Such research is commissioned by the Research Councils who are funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). b) Defra’s expenditure on applied agricultural research in each of the last 15 years, excluding food science research but including agri-environment and soils research, is as follows:   Defra’s expenditure on applied agricultural research (£millions)  1999/20002000/012001/022002/032003/042004/052005/062006/0778.878.079.578.779.379.477.871.52007/082008/092009/102010/112011/122012/132013/14 64.959.461.159.057.852.143.5 Note: This has been supplemented since January 2014 by £160million allocated by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and the Department for International Development to agricultural research and innovation under the UK Strategy for Agricultural Technologies, which Defra developed jointly with these departments.

Agriculture

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to improve total factor productivity in the agricultural sector; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: The Secretary of State has set out a long-term economic plan for food and farming - the number one priority is to enable a productive and resilient industry. As part of this work, Defra is dedicated to opening up new markets at home and abroad, making EU regulations work for British farmers, and protecting this country from plant and animal disease.   Earlier this month the Secretary of State introduced Food Enterprise Zones (FEZs), which will make the planning process easier for ambitious businesses that want to expand. Defra is making available grants of up to £50,000 in 11 areas to facilitate the setting up of Local Development Orders and FEZs. She has now opened applications for a second round. To boost technology development, £70m of the £160m for Agri-Tech is funding an Agri-Tech Catalyst to commercialise near market innovation. 52 Agri-Tech Catalyst projects, worth £43m (£30m of government funding), have been announced. Successful projects from the Third Round will be announced in March 2015.

Wildlife: Smuggling

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recommendations the Government plans to propose to the Conference on the Illegal Trade in Wildlife in Botswana in March 2015.

George Eustice: The Government is working with other countries and international organisations to develop an ambitious set of outcomes for the Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade that is taking place in Botswana on 25 March 2015. These will build on and complement the 25 commitments to action on enforcement and criminal justice, demand reduction and sustainable livelihoods set out in the Declaration from the London Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade.

Procurement

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of the amount (a) her Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on procurement was paid to small and medium-sized enterprises (i) directly and (ii) through the supply chain in the last year for which figures are available.

Dan Rogerson: On 25 February 2015, the Government published the latest spend data relating to central government spend with SMEs for 2013/14. This sets out procurement spend data for all Whitehall Departments including Defra, and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies. The information can be found at the following link:   https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/central-government-spend-with-smes-2013-to-2014

Department for Communities and Local Government

Coastal Communities Fund

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which coastal resorts have received support in more than (a) one round and (b) two rounds of coastal communities funding awards.

Penny Mordaunt: The Coastal Communities Fund has had three bidding rounds to date. A table has been placed in the Library of the House giving details of 164 coastal communities across the UK that have received grants from the Fund in one, two or three bidding rounds. The table covers all grants awarded in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to date. In addition to the coastal communities in the table, 22 grants were awarded to projects in local authority areas, and a further five grants awarded to cross local authority projects including two long distance coastal footpaths, where we do not have details of the individual coastal communities they will help. Ministers are not involved in the grant application or assessment process. The Big Lottery Fund is responsible for inviting and assessing applications to the Fund and makes recommendations to Ministers on which projects should be supported. The Coastal Communities Fund is currently closed for further applications. No decisions have been taken yet on whether there will be further bidding rounds. This will be a matter for the next Spending Review. However, I hope there will be further opportunities to support local schemes which have not benefitted from Government support to date.

Affordable Housing: Rural Areas

Mr Nick Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many homes have been developed under the exceptions policy for affordable homes in rural areas in each of the last five years.

Brandon Lewis: Holding answer received on 06 March 2015



Information reported by local authorities on the provision of additional new build affordable housing on rural exception sites has been collected in the Local Authority Housing Statistics return since 2011-12 and is shown in the table below: Provision of additional new build affordable housing on rural exception sites in England2011-12 1,5352012-13 9812013-14 1,642Source: Local Authority Housing Statistics return Equivalent data was not collected prior to 2011-12.

Aarhus Convention

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what representations he has received about the use of the Aarhus Convention in challenging planning decisions in the High Court from (a) local authorities, (b) other bodies and (c) individuals; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: The Aarhus convention is referred to by some of those who challenge planning decisions in the High Court although we do not hold systematic records. Each challenge is considered on its merits, taking into account the representations of each party as a whole. The Department also deals with correspondence referring to the Convention in its normal course of business.

Starter Home Initiative

Mr Nick Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the (a) distribution between each local authority in England of the total number of homes built under the proposed starter homes exceptions policy over the next five years and (b) amount of section 106 and community infrastructure levy contributions foregone as a consequence of this policy.

Mr Nick Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the total potential value of section 106 and community infrastructure levy contributions which will be forgone in sales designated under the proposed exemptions policy for starter homes.

Brandon Lewis: Further to my Written Ministerial Statement of 2 March 2015, Official Report, Column 42-44WS, we do not anticipate any shortfall, as these are homes which would not otherwise have been built. Councils will still benefit from the New Homes Bonus and council tax receipts from the new homes.

Members: Correspondence

Mr David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when the hon. Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 22 January 2015 enclosing a motion passed by Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council.

Kris Hopkins: A reply was sent on 27 February.

Starter Home Initiative

Mr Nick Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department made when assessing the potential availability of land for its proposed starter homes policy of the proportion of sites that might otherwise be brought forward for residential development without the introduction of that policy.

Brandon Lewis: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Housing: Construction

Mr Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many (a) council houses and (b) affordable housing units have been built in each year since 1985.

Brandon Lewis: Statistics on additional affordable housing built or acquired in England since 1991-92, including those delivered by local authorities, are published in the Department’s live tables 1000 and 1009, which are available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-affordable-housing-supply Statistics are not available prior to 1991-92. Affordable housing statistics include housing delivered by local authorities (councils) and Private Registered Providers (housing associations).

Fire Services

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, on how many occasions he has used his powers of intervention under section 22 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 since May 2010; and for what reasons he used those powers on each such occasion.

Penny Mordaunt: These intervention powers have not been used under this Government or the last Administration, as they have not been needed. However, as I made clear in my Written Ministerial Statement of 15 December 2014, Official Report, Column 68WS, these are powers that could be used if the Secretary of State considers a fire and rescue authority is failing, or is likely to fail, to act in accordance with the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England.

HM Treasury

Dave Hartnett

Paul Flynn: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what communications he has had with Mr David Hartnett, the former head of tax collection at HM Revenue and Customs, since he left that post to advise HSBC in 2014.

Mr David Gauke: The Chancellor of the Exchequer has had no communications with David Hartnett in an official capacity since his departure from HM Customs and Excise in 2012.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Wind Power: Noise

Sir James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what guidance he has provided to planning authorities on the relevance of amplitude modulation in applications for land-based wind turbines in advance of the review of evidence on wind turbine amplitude modulation his Department is appointing acoustics experts to conduct.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Energy: Meters

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many and what proportion of (a) electricity and (b) gas energy customers in (i) the UK, (ii) Scotland, (iii) England, (iv) Wales and (v) Northern Ireland used home prepayment meters in each year from May 2010 up to the most recent period for which records are available.

Matthew Hancock: Data on methods of payment for domestic energy consumers are published in Quarterly Energy Prices, tables 2.4.2 and 2.5.2.This is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/quarterly-domestic-energy-price-stastics .The tables below show the proportion of customers on pre-payment for each year since 2010. Data is only available at the Public Electricity Supply (PES) region level of geography. As Merseyside and North Wales is a PES region we cannot separately calculate totals for England and Wales. Gas is not yet widely available in Northern Ireland; therefore this data has been excluded from the gas table.Percentage of electricity customers with pre-payment meters 20102011201220132014pUK1515161617Scotland1919191921England and Wales1414151516Northern Ireland3336373636 Percentage of gas customers with pre-payment meters 20102011201220132014pGB1313141515Scotland1314161718England and Wales1213141415 Data for 2014 is provisional as Q4 2014 data is not yet available, so percentages published are based on data from the first three quarters of the year.DECC estimate that there are just over 27 million households in the UK that consume electricity, based on meter point counts, suggesting that in 2014 there were around 4½ million households using pre-payment meters.DECC estimate that there are just over 23 million households in Great Britain that consume gas, based on meter point counts. This suggests that in 2014 there were around 3½ million households using pre-payment meters.

Energy: Meters

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the average amount of outstanding prepayment meter debt for (a) electricity and (b) gas home energy customers was in (i) the UK, (ii) Scotland, (iii) England, (iv) Wales and (v) Northern Ireland in each year from May 2010 up to the most recent period for which records are available.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Cabinet Office

Behavioural Insights Team

Chris Bryant: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2015 to Question 223182, who the members of the Cross-Government Behavioural Insights Network are; when that network has met; and what topics were discussed at each of those meetings.

Mr Rob Wilson: The informal cross-government behavioural insights network was established in 2012 to share experience and insights from across government.In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal meetings are not normally disclosed.There is not a defined membership list for the network with attendees drawn from across the civil service.

Asthma

Liz Kendall: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2014 to Question 211917, how many people (a) under and (b) over the age of 18 died as a result of asthma in England and Wales in 2014.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - Death from Asthma
(PDF Document, 190.45 KB)

Department for Culture Media and Sport

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 February 2015 to Question 223139, if he will discuss his Department's policies with the (a) Early Intervention Foundation and (b) Centre for Ageing Better.

Mrs Helen Grant: My Right Hon Friend the Secretary of State will happily consider any meeting request made in the normal fashion.

Members: Correspondence

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 21 January 2015 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms B H Ardwold.

Mrs Helen Grant: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has no record of receiving this letter and a duplicate has been requested.

Mobile Phones: Austria

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make an assessment of the effect on price and quality of service for consumers of the reduction of mobile network operators in Austria from four to three.

Mr Edward Vaizey: There are no plans for a separate assessment of the consequences of the Austrian mobile market consolidation in 2012. DCMS officials, working with BIS colleagues in Competition Policy, continue to monitor the results of the EU remedies imposed when the deal was sanctioned. Competition authorities will look at all relevant evidence when considering any future mergers that affect the UK market.

Radio Frequencies

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress he has made on promoting sharing of Government-owned spectrum.

Mr Edward Vaizey: This Government has made good progress on Government shared spectrum. 62 MHz of Government used spectrum has already been shared or released. 140 MHz of spectrum at 2.3 GHz and 3.4 GHz will be released entirely from public to private use.

Railways: Radio Frequencies

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the suitability of the L-Band spectrum between 1.4GHz and 1.5GHz for improved on-train connectivity.

Mr Edward Vaizey: There have been two assessments already. At a European level the Radio Spectrum Policy Group has published a report on wireless broadband in part of this range (https://circabc.europa.eu/d/a/workspace/SpacesStore/6e0575cf-5244-4707-a811-c45b61b29377/RSPG13-522-Final_RSPG_Report_on_WBB.pdf, section 6.2). In the UK, Ofcom recently concluded a consultation on the use of the upper end of this range of frequencies for supplemental downlink, i.e. boosting data rates for mobile telephony. This can be found at http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/consultations/licence-variation-1.4ghz/summary/1.4ghz-consultation.pdf

Regulation

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a comparative assessment of the cost of (a) legal fees and (b) legal advice relating to appeals of regulatory decisions to (i) Ofcom and (ii) other regulators in (A) 2013-14, (B) 2012-13 and (C) 2011-12.

Mr Edward Vaizey: There are no plans to make a comparative assessment. Information about legal costs relating to appeals of regulatory decisions can be sought directly from Ofcom and other economic regulators, who are independent from Government.

Ofcom

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make a comparative assessment of the effects of (a) judicial review standard and (b) merits-based appeals on the ability of Ofcom to carry out its functions.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government has already assessed the impacts of both standards of review. This was done as part of its analysis prior to consulting on options for reforming Regulatory and Competition Appeals in 2013.

Deputy Prime Minister

Electoral Register: Learning Disability

Mark Durkan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will collect information on the number of people with a learning disability who (a) register to vote under the new individual electoral registration system and (b) vote in the 2015 General Election.

Mr Sam Gyimah: It is not possible to monitor the number of people with a learning disability who (a) register to vote and (b) vote in the forthcoming election as no record is made of disability when registering to vote or when voting.The Cabinet Office is funding Mencap to increase the representation of people with learning disabilities on the electoral register. This includes engagement activity highlighting to disabled people why they should register to vote and how to do so.

Department of Health

Northampton Hospital

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many Serious Incident Investigations have been undertaken by Northampton General Hospital into incidents involving stillbirths in each year since 2010.

Dr Daniel Poulter: It is the responsibility of care providers to investigate all serious incidents that take place under their jurisdiction.   Data from the Strategic Executive Information System (STEIS) shows that a total of five serious incidents involving still births were reported by Northampton General Hospital since 2010. Where a small number of cases exist the Department is unable to provide further details as the disclosure of such information could breach an individual’s confidentiality.

Lung Diseases

Mark Pawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cases of chronic lung disease are recorded as being linked to (a) butterscotch flavoured e-liquid and (b) electronic cigarettes in general.

Jane Ellison: The Department does not hold the requested information.   There are reported cases of butterscotch, and other flavours of e-liquid, containing the chemical diacetyl which has been strongly associated with a form of lung disease called bronchiolitis obliterans via occupational exposure.   This substance is not intentionally present in e-liquids and because of the potential of this chemical to cause disease, a precautionary approach should be taken. Many responsible producers have taken steps to remove this chemical from e-liquids.

Kidney Diseases

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to encourage earlier diagnosis of kidney disease.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department issues to clinical commissioning groups and local authorities on developing appropriate services to identify kidney disease among people from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential for cost savings in the NHS from earlier diagnosis of kidney disease.

Jane Ellison: The NHS Health Check programme, which launched in 2008, is a universal and systematic programme for everyone between the ages of 40-74 years (not already on a chronic disease register) that assesses people’s risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes. It is estimated that the programme could detect at least 20,000 cases of diabetes or kidney disease earlier, allowing individuals to be better managed and to improve their quality of life.   Economic modelling suggested that the NHS Health Check programme would be cost effective and it is is estimated that savings to the National Health Service budget nationally would be around £57 million per year after four years, rising to £176 million per year after a 15 year period.   Black and south Asian people are three to five times more likely to have kidney failure than white people, but many are unaware of the condition. Local authorities, which are responsible for roll-out of the health check in their respective areas, can choose to target high-risk groups to encourage participation in the NHS Health Check programme, if appropriate. Guidance and tools for commissioners, clinicians and local authorities on the programme, including case study examples on its application in specific communities, can be found at the following link:   www.healthcheck.nhs.uk   In addition to this, the NHS Choices Website contains detailed information on both black and Asian health issues which includes a page on the increased risk these ethnic groups have of developing kidney disease. The page can be viewed at the following link:   www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Kidneyhealth/Pages/BlackandAsiankidneyhealth.aspx  Finally, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidance Chronic kidney disease: early identification and management of chronic kidney disease in adults in primary and secondary care sets out best practice for clinicians on early diagnosis and care of patients with the condition. The guidance was updated in July 2014.

Brain: Tumours

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reason brain tumours are not included in the Government's Be Clear on Cancer awareness campaign.

Jane Ellison: “Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer”, published on 12 January 2011, committed over £450 million over the four years up to 2014-15 to achieve earlier diagnosis of cancer, including some central funding for Be Clear on Cancer (BCOC) campaigns, which aim to raise awareness of the symptoms of cancer and get symptomatic patients to present earlier.   The BCOC campaigns aim to raise awareness of the symptoms of specific cancers, and to encourage people with symptoms to see their doctor promptly. The decision on which cancers should be the focus of BCOC campaigns is informed by a steering group, whose members include primary and secondary care clinicians, analysts and key voluntary sector organisations. A number of factors are taken into account when deciding which campaigns to develop and run, with one of the main criteria being the number of deaths that could be avoided through earlier diagnosis. The focus for national campaigns so far has therefore been on lung, breast (in women over 70), bowel, kidney and bladder, and oesophago-gastric cancers.   The Department will continue to work with Public Health England, NHS England and other stakeholders to keep these campaigns under review and work with relevant experts to see what might be done to increase awareness of other cancers, such as brain tumours.

University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answers of 26 January 2015 to Question 221450 and of 2 March 2015 to Questions 225136, 225137 and 225138, for what reasons funding is provided to University Hospital Bristol to treat patients with gamma knife radiosurgery; when that funding approval was given; and who authorised that funding.

Jane Ellison: Since 1 April 2013, radiosurgery treatment is planned and paid for by NHS England to a national specification, developed through public consultation. All existing contracts for stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic radiotherapy services, including that with University Hospital Bristol, were transferred to NHS England on 1 April 2013. NHS England has continued to commission against these contracts, during the review of stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy.   The future provision of stereotactic radiosurgery services in NHS England will be determined by the procurement exercise that will follow on from the consultation exercise that has recently ended. Until this process is completed there are no plans to change current commissioning arrangements.

Health Services: South Yorkshire

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which schemes in Sheffield and South Yorkshire will be (a) cancelled, (b) delayed or (c) deferred as a result of the transfer of £650 million from the NHS capital budget for 2014-15 to the revenue budget.

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which schemes in Sheffield and South Yorkshire will be (a) cancelled, (b) delayed or (c) deferred as a result of the transfer of £197 million from the NHS Technology Fund budget for 2014-15 to the revenue budget.

George Freeman: The Department has not cancelled, delayed or deferred any agreed funding for specific capital schemes in National Health Service trusts or foundation trusts.

Health Services: Greater Manchester

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of devolution of spending to Greater Manchester on (a) patients who live outside the Greater Manchester area but who are registered with a GP there and (b) patients who wish to receive treatment at a hospital in Greater Manchester but who live outside the area.

George Freeman: This is a historic partnership between local organisations in Greater Manchester (GM), with general practitioners as clinical leaders working with elected leaders to improve services for people living in the area.   The National Health Service bodies involved, including NHS England and the relevant clinical commissioning groups, will remain statutorily accountable for the exercise of their functions. GM will work collaboratively with local non-GM bodies and take into account the impact of GM decisions upon non-GM bodies and their communities.   The fundamental national policies including Choice, inspection regimes, guidance and regulations will continue to apply to GM but, in line with the Five Year Forward View published by NHS England, GM will exercise greater freedom in how they are implemented so that local services better reflect the priorities of local patients and service users.

Clinical Commissioning Groups: Cumbria

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding (a) in total and (b) per capita has been allocated for Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group for each year from 2013-14 to 2019-20.

George Freeman: Clinical commissioning group (CCG) funding has not been decided beyond 2015/16. Notified revenue allocations and per capita allocations for Cumbria CCG are:   YearAllocation £000Per capita £2013/14692,1221,3302014/15677,3241,2992015/16685,6541,313   These figures exclude running cost and Better Care Fund allocations.

Cancer: Cumbria

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what proportion of patients at (a) North Cumbria University Hospitals Trust and (b) University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust were seen by a consultant within two weeks of a GP referral for each type of cancer in each quarter since 2008.

Jane Ellison: The information requested can be found in the Statistics section of the NHS England website at:   http://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/cancer-waiting-times/

Obesity: Copeland

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children in each ward in Copeland constituency in (a) reception and (b) year 6 have been recorded as (i) overweight or (ii) obese in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison: Data on Childhood obesity at a sub-national level for England are collected through the National Childhood Measurement Programme for two school year groups Reception (4-5 year olds) and Year 6 (10-11 year olds).   The attached table presents the most recent ward level data that are available. Ward-level data are not published by individual year because of the small numbers at ward level and potential disclosure of sensitive information. The figures in the table are summed over three year periods.   Some small numbers still remain and these figures have been suppressed, shown by an ‘s’ in the attached table.   Information for the overweight category was not calculated at ward level for the three year periods 2008/09-2010/11 and 2009/10-2011/12. Information for these periods is for the obese weight category only. 



NCMP ward level data for childhood obesity
(Word Document, 25.33 KB)

Malnutrition: Cumbria

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients have been diagnosed with malnutrition in (a) Copeland constituency and (b) Cumbria by (i) GPs and (ii) A&E doctors in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison: This information is not collected centrally.